The buzz Coming in
from all the corners that the lone MLA of Goa Forward Party (GFP) Vijai Sardesai
is planning to
join the BJP
very soon and the topic is in discussion amongst the people of Goa, and more
especially
in Fatorda. However,
according to those in the know including sources close to him, Sardesai will
not damage his
credibility
by supporting the BJP, after the traumatic political backlash he received post
his decision to support the Manohar Parrikar government. Though he became a
minister and then Deputy Chief Minister, his core constituency felt betrayed
and many in Margao and Fatorda including well-known social activists, lawyers
and doctors distanced
themselves
from him completely. As early as one month ago, in an Inda Today Round Table,
he said, “We
are in a
pre-poll alliance with the Congress. We are tied together”. Then asked what
happens post-poll he said “100% we are still tied together irrespective of what
happens even if it means sitting in the opposition”. These were Vijai Sardesai’s
words. Sardesai has also been extremely vocal about the “BJP trying to gobble
up other parties” and has hit out against how the BJP was splitting parties.” Importantly
on Jan 31, 2021 on the
occasion of the annual zatra at Bodgini, he and his then core team of Goa Forward
sought divine blessings from Dev Bodgeshwar
and took a solemn oath before the deity never to align with the BJP
under
any circumstances in the future. With so much at
stake and after making such public promises, no excuse will save his
credibility if he even contemplates suporting the BJP government and
subsequently
becoming a
minister. When Herald contacted him he said, “There is no base to the rumours
spread
about me
joining the BJP; as such types of rumours keep coming. Rumours are being deliberately
spread. I am elected as an MLA, and we are quiet and introspecting”, said Vijai.
Senior members of the GFP executive
committee is
also of the opinion that few are deliberately spreading the rumours of their
MLA to defame him.
Mohandas
Lolienkar, General Secretary, GFP said that Vijai try to join the BJP is just a
rumour and there is no basis for that. “We are alliance partners of the
Congress party, and hence we cannot take such type of decisions, joining hands
with BJP. These are all rumours”, he stated. Lyndon Pereira, Chairperson
of Margao Municipal Council, who is also a member of the GFP, said that he has no idea about their MLA
planning to support the BJP government.
“This is
just a rumour”, he stated. Interestingly though, however, Durgadas Kamat,
Vice President and pokesperson of GFP
and Prashant Naik former executive member of the party refused to comment on
the issue. The bottom line is that in spite of a tough electoral fight the
people of Fatorda gave him a chance since he regretted supporting
and BJP, took
an oath in a sacred temple and made public media statements that he would never
align with the BJP. Any deviation from this will cause irreparable damage to his
credibility which Sardesai will protect at all costs.
